The Most Important Question Your Pediatrician Should Ask You

New parents make frequent visits to the pediatrician’s office to check in on everything from weight gain to critical developmental milestones. During these visits, the doctor may ask you about your baby’s sleep habits, car seat safety or whether you’ve begun the process of “baby proofing” your house as your little one starts crawling and walking.

All of these topics are important, of course. However, the most important conversation you have with your pediatrician may be about water safety. The Center for Disease Control says that drowning is the No. 1 cause of death for children ages 1 through 4. Water safety goes beyond just beach and pool time. Nearly 70% of drownings occur during non-swim times. This is a topic that always needs to be top of mind for families.

Do you have your child enrolled in swim lessons?

Studies show that enrolling your child in swim lessons can reduce the risk of drowning by up to 88%. We know that the earlier your child gets into lessons, the better! The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends enrolling children into a high-quality learn-to-swim program by age 1.

At Goldfish Swim School, we offer swim classes for children starting as early as 4 months of age. Kids ages 4 to 35 months-old enjoy a weekly 30-minute class in the water with a parent or caregiver working on core water and swim safety skills with the help of an instructor. Our pool is kept at a warm 90 degrees to make the water inviting and comfortable for all swimmers.

The classes are fun and interactive for babies and their caregivers while also creating a strong foundation for water safety. Babies practice fundamental water safety skills, including practicing their grasp reflex, pulling paddle, floating and breath control.

We’d love to see you and your little one in the pool! Goldfish Swim School – Tulsa Hills and Broken Arrow offer lessons at times that are convenient for every family’s schedule. Please visit goldfishswimschool.com for more information.

3 Critical Water Safety Tips

• Follow the recommendation of the American Academy of Pediatrics and enroll your children in high-quality, consistent swim lessons by age one.
• Ditch the floaties! Instead, seek out Coast Guard-approved life jackets! These regulated and consistent flotation devices, when fitted correctly, allow for proper breathing and swimming for kiddos of all ages.
• Utilize layers of protection around pools, including fences and door alarms. For children under age 5, 87% of drowning fatalities happen in home pools or hot tubs.